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Why Does Everything Cost So Much?

October 10, 2017

If you’re currently planning a wedding or have in the past, then you’ve experienced the overwhelming sense of sticker shock! Why does everything cost so much? It all adds up fast, so you panic and immediately begin to think of ways to cut cost. Believe me (Leslie), I’m a huge fan of getting a lot of bang for your buck, and will go to the moon and back to snag the best price for my couples, but at the end of the day, I don’t believe that the wedding industry is a big sham, and I want to help couples spend and save in the appropriate areas.

Let me use one example to explain why things cost so much:

You need chairs for your ceremony, so you make an appointment with a rental provider and decide that ghost chairs will match perfectly with your design aesthetic. You then give the rental specialist a time, location and date for your wedding and he or she provides you with a quote. {panic mode} Yep, they really do cost that much, and let me explain why. First, the rental company invested quite a bit of money to purchase these beautiful chairs in bulk (possibly hundreds or thousands), so they eventually need a full return on their investment. Secondly, one must consider delivery and pickup fees (loading trucks, gas, etc.). And because it’s a cardinal rule never to work on your wedding day (and that goes for your wedding party and family!), you need their lovely staff to set up and take down the chairs which incurs a labor fee for unloading the truck, taking off chair covers, re-stacking, etc.) All of these requirements just for some chairs for your 15-35 minute ceremony will add up –> “I need a cocktail” mode.

This example goes for all services associated with making your wedding stunning. Below are a few more examples:

Band – About a dozen people are working behind-the-scenes months prior to your wedding practicing songs, assembling equipment, developing a reception plan, etc. to prepare for your big day.

Planner – We spend on average four to six hours a week planning for each wedding. That’s a 80 to 100-hour work week (hints why we only take a select few each year!). Just like a lawyer or accountant, planners and coordinators charge for their invested time, expertise, and level of experience.

Cake Baker – If you’re anything like me, baking a cake can be one of the most stressful tasks (we all have weaknesses, right?). Professional bakers’ cakes not only taste amazing, but have perfect shape and incredible design. They also have to transport these fragile tasty treats to your venue. They are sugar geniuses!

Photography – Just like planners, their talent grows with experience, and an experienced photographer will have the right equipment to capture your most special moments. An unexperienced photographer will not even know which moments to capture. Additionally, when they are not shooting, they spend their time editing each photo with care.

Florist – We tell our couples not to shy away from a florist just because they seem expensive; don’t feel like you have to hire the local grocery store to save money (actually, please don’t!). Researching, ordering from wholesalers, processing flowers, assembling bouquets, centerpieces and installations, meetings…florists spend hours upon hours on their craft.

Finally the good news! There are several areas to shave off some dollar signs on estimates (one of my favorite things to do) and I want to share with you a few of the most obvious ways to cut cost for your wedding.

Guest count: this is the first and best way to lower cost for a wedding. Think about it, you’re saving on chairs, linens, centerpieces, place settings, cake, food. And believe me, people understand more than you think. My rule of thumb: if you haven’t been in communication with an individual for a few years, consider not adding him/her to the list.

Food: What I’m not suggesting is cutting food or asking Aunt Betty to cook some homemade lasagna for your wedding. What I AM suggesting is to consider an affordable option. If you select an amazing caterer, then their chicken and veggies will be outstanding. Believe it or not, people aren’t expecting prime rib when they attend weddings.

Consider opting for beer and wine and leaving out liquor. It’s not only a safe to option for your wallet, but keeps guests from getting too intoxicated in a short amount of time. Also consider the type of wine; your caterer’s house wine might not be a bad option!

Focus on your priorities for your wedding. Don’t spend 30% of your budget on flowers if you really want a big party with an amazing band. Additionally, your design shouldn’t suffer just because you can’t afford those ghost chairs. Make a budget plan from the beginning and keep in mind that it can and will be fluid throughout the process.

I always tell potential clients that at the end of the day, our services will pay for themselves. Why? Because we know market prices and develop a specific plan. We would never take that sweet bride into a rental showroom and show her a beautiful ghost chair that we know she would fall in love with if she just couldn’t fit them into her budget; however, we would provide another amazing alternative like using them just for the head table.

One of the biggest perks of hiring a planner (at the beginning of planning a wedding) is assistance in setting up a realistic budget to work through. Staying on the same page throughout the process saves SO much time, energy, heartbreak and potential relational stress between family members or partners.

Have more quesions about why things cost so much in the wedding industry or how to properly spend your wedding budget? Leave a comment or email us at celebrate@leslieherringevents.com